Mineola (WALK) - Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi has a meeting today with the man who will replace him in January.
Suozzi will discuss the transition of power with Ed Mangano (pictured right), the onetime underdog who has scored a huge upset in this year's election for Nassau county executive. Suozzi finally conceded yesterday almost a month after election day, when the two-term Democrat realized he wouldn't be able to catch up on Mangano's lead of almost 400 votes, even if he challenged some disputed paper ballots.
Mangano, a former county legislator and an attorney with the Uniondale firm of Rivkin Radler, was not expected to give Suozzi much of a challenge on election day. Mangano capitalized, however, on voter anger over property taxes, even though county officials have virtually no control over school taxes, which make up the bulk of the local property tax levy.
At a press conference in Mineola Tuesday morning, Suozzi said that he offered Mangano every assistance to help in a smooth transition. Mangano, meanwhile, said that reform is on the way and promised to put the taxpayer first. He will be sworn in this January.
This has not been a good week for Nassau County Democrats. Also today, Comptroller Howard Weitzman conceded another close race to his challenger, Republican George Maragos. Yesterday, Legislator David Mejias, another Democrat, conceded to his challenger, Republican Joseph Belesi. Republicans, who were long a minority in the county legislature, will now hold a 2-seat majority come January.
